During my time at Saint Mary's, I have experience the wonderful world of liberal arts and the overlapping of course material across classes and departments. I expected this to happen this semester since I am taking a HUST and a history course, but I had an unexpected cross-over earlier this week-- I quoted the Yellow Wallpaper to my photography class. While critiquing my peers' work for our "Extreme Angles" project, I was struck by a photo by my classmate, Caitlin. She had framed a shot of her couch cushions so that three were meeting at the center with their swirling floral design. I immediately thought of the "irritating" yellow wallpaper the narrator becomes consumed with during her stay at the summer home and though the pattern did not bother me in the least, Gilman's description of bulbous eyes and dangling heads ran through my head.I find this type of occurrence fascinating. Because of my "setting" at Saint Mary's, I am able to learn holistically from different angles of the same subject. My classes interweave and affect one another and I love it. If I had selected a different place for my college studies, I may not have had these experiences.
In Othello, its title character says he needs "ocular proof" to be convinced of his wife's unfaithfulness. The "seeing is believing" attitude is a dangerous one and brings up issues my photography class has discussed. One photographer, Annette Kuhn, writes that photographs can be reduced to a compilation of light and dark patches when inspected closely, thus offering no true proof of anything. The value of a photograph is what it represents, but in this age of PhotoShop, what images can be trusted? 
The problem with other "ocular proof" like seeing Desdemona and Cassio speaking together or Cassio with the handkerchief is that Othello saw what Iago wanted him to see. Being a trusting individual, without Iago's prompting, Othello might have seen Desdemona's kindness in consoling Cassio. And the handkerchief was also due to Iago's plotting. Looking at things through a particular lens, such as through Iago's twisted perspective or as an audience member, one sees different things as "truth." The audience has the advantage of seeing everything while poor Othello is led by Iago to his ultimate demise by relying on his slant of the events. Ocular proof can't stand by itself- it is often unreliable and misleading which causes people to jump to conclusions, especially when outside influences are present.
After watching Girl, Interrupted, I didn't take the tunnels back to my room, I put on a Doris Day flick to lighten my mood and made sure I got an extra hug from my fiance when he came over... needless to say- the film made an impact. It provided insight to the process of entering a facility like Claymoore and raised questions about society's views on mental illness and its treatment. It also showed how someone feels while battling with a mental illness- as in Suzanna's case, borderline personality disorder. When introduced to Suzanna, it was obvious that she needed help since she had chased a bottle of aspirin with a bottle of vodka and then denied she had attempted suicide. However, I don't think I would have had her institutionalized if she were going through the same struggle today, which brings up a broader question: if place matters, doesn't time matter too? I read an article from The Justice, the student newspaper from Brandeis University (apparently the only nonsectarian Jewish-sponsored college or university in the United States) which summarized a talk given by the real Suzanna Kaysen in February 2003. She had a number of interesting points like that she hated the film since it changed so much of the story to fit the medium and that she didn't feel "cured" of her disorder when she left McLean: "She acknowledged that despite being older and less wise, she was really no different than she had been when she spent a year of her life in McLean Hospital. She had just learned to live with herself." One of the most important points she brought up was that upon her release, she felt like she needed to hide her condition in fear of the stigma of having a mental illness. It happened to her in the 60s and it still happens today- and is an issue for a lot of people- like the Brandeis Organization for Mental Health Awareness (BOMHA) which hosted an awareness week and arranged for Kaysen to speak. It is a potential barrier for people who need to seek help- the author put it well when he/she posed the question: "How many people will avoid seeking necessary treatment out of fear of being labeled "mentally ill?" In our TMI, over-sharing society, it's hard to imagine what people still want to keep from others but it's understandable why people often cover up their mental illnesses and deny their problems to prevent getting labeled. In order for individuals to seek the help they need, I believe that we, as a society, need to get out of the 60's mentality and embrace those who are getting the treatment they need and not show prejudice against those coping with mental disorders.Link to article: Susanna Kaysen, without interruptions
After closely reading "The Yellow Wallpaper," we discovered that the narrator is suffering from postpartum depression and that "the rest cure" has been prescribed in an attempt for her to recover. With our medical knowledge much more developed than in 1892, we can understand and properly treat this condition of new mothers. On the Mayo Clinic's website, it goes over the various types of depression which women can experience- from the baby blues to postpartum pyschosis. After going over the symptoms, I was able to trace the progression of the narrator's depression.
From postpartum depression--
Feelings of guilt, shame or inadequacy:
"It does weigh on me so not to do my duty in any way!"
"...here I am a comparative burden already!"
Difficulty bonding with baby:
"Such a dear baby! And yet I cannot be with him, it makes me so nervous."
to postpartum psychosis--
Hallucinations and delusions:"The front pattern does move-- and no wonder! The woman behind shakes it!"
"I think that woman gets out in the daytime!"Paranoia:
"I always lock the door when I creep by daylight. I can't do it at night, for I know John would suspect something at once."
"I don't want anybody to get that woman out at night but myself."
I was surprised to find that the treatment of the milder version of this type of depression (known as baby blues) is actually rest- which is the treatment prescribed to our poor narrator. If the severity increases, counseling, antidepressants and hormone therapy are suggested. Obviously, these weren't available near the turn of the century. What do you think might have helped the narrator? Instead of resting, what should have been the best medecine to help her recover?
